The NFL Panthers and Bank of America announced
yesterday an eight-year extension of their sponsorship
agreement through the 2007 season, with the option for four
additional years. The new deal includes title sponsorship
of Ericsson Stadium's club level, which will now be called
the "Bank of America Club," as well as installation of three
more ATMs throughout the stadium, bringing the total to six.
Additionally, the Panthers and Bank of America will partner
to launch the Caravan Tour, which will travel to five cities
in NC and SC each spring, and bring Panthers players to the
cities in an effort to support community programs, including
hospital visits and youth football clinics. Bank of
America, formerly NationsBank, has been a partner of the
Panthers since the team's inaugural '95-96 season (THE
DAILY). Panthers President Mark Richardson, on the Caravan
Tour: "We have a regional market, and that presents a
challenge. Charlotte has a feel for the Panthers. But
we've got to get the Columbias, the Charlestons, the
Greensboros, Raleighs and Wilmingtons to think of us the
same way Charlotte does" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/11).